CRANK ISSUE

1995 Pontiac Grand Am

We have a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am with a QUAD 4. It has 218,000 miles on it. It runs fine, when it starts, It has eben running fine for a long time now, small coolant leaks and a little shake, but it is a QUAD 4. The question is this, My brother in law drives the car and when he went to start it the other day, it just ticks, it doesn't tick like a dead battery, it constantly ticks like an automtatic Gun, the wires are all tight on the starter, and the battery cables are tight, with or without a battery charger it does the same thing. I am out of ideas. Any help would be great!